The Supreme People’s Court reviewed the death sentence of a prisoner surnamed Wang, who had admitted his crimes of intentional homicide and rape, and was being held at a detention house in Guangchang county in the city of Fuzhou in Jiangxi province through a remote video system on Dec 22.

This is the first time the SPC reexamined a death row prisoner via video, and a milestone in the SPC’s innovative remote arraignment hearing process. The process saves significant litigation resources and improves the quality and efficiency of the review of death penalty procedures.

The case has aroused wide public attention in the county. Wang took revenge against his ex-wife for divorcing him by knifing her young and innocent nephew and raping her niece, leaving one dead and two slightly hurt.

The defendant was sentenced to death for intentional homicide and five years in prison for rape at the first trial at Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court, which decided to execute Wang’s death sentence. The decision was reviewed and approved by the Jiangxi Higher People’s Court and was then submitted to the SPC for final approval.

“This is the judge from the Supreme People’s Court. We are making the arraignment on a remote video system from Beijing for your death penalty case. Do you understand?” The presiding judge uttered his question clearly.

Wang answered “Yes”. The system synchronized the visuals smoothly and produced clear sounds, effectively realizing a “face-to-face” arraignment.

It was the first time for a defendant to stand for a death penalty review by the SPC in a detention house rather than a local court.

The defendant Wang explained the details of his crimes in front of the camera and faced interrogation by SPC judges. He answered every question and fully expressed his position. The remote video system enabled the court clerk to record the details simultaneously.

After the arraignment, the SPC judge immediately faxed the record to the Guangchang People’s Court. The defendant signed his name and put his fingerprint on the document after reading it. The document was then sent to the SPC by mail.

“This innovative way to review death penalty cases can not only improve efficiency but also lower the risk of escorting prisoners,” said the head of the county’s people’s court.